First cat in space: how a Parisian stray called F élicette was blasted far from Earth

Monkeys and dogs were usually used to test whether humans could survive outside Earth ’s atmosphere – but 60 years ago the French tried something a little differentIn a few weeks, space scientists will celebrate a remarkable event – the 60th anniversary of the launch of the first cat into space, an astronautical feat that has never been repeated.A small black-and-white Parisian stray, F élicette,flew on a French rocket on a sub-orbital mission in October 1963 that reached an altitude of 154km, taking her to a place where no feline had gone before – or since.Continue reading...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - September 9, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Robin McKie Tags: Space Science Animals France European Space Agency International Space Station World news Cats Pets Source Type: news